JaxieWaxie

That's funny :D my son was violently ill on the Allure. Go figure. My NON professional opinion is that the seas are just very choppy from the storms on the East coast. Who knows? :):)

We were on this cruise as well, and you're right. The bartender in Two 70 told us that she has been cruising for 17 years and cannot wait to transfer to the Harmony because she still gets seasick on the ship. She said the seas are just not as smooth as those to the south.

There were no reports of anyone not being able to board the current sailing that departed yesterday. I'm pretty sure something like that would have been widely reported on these boards. Based on that I assume RCI has the situation at hand and you'll be good to go.

Thanks -- that's what I had figured, too, but thought I'd ask juuuuust in case. :o

Haven't heard anything about people denied boarding on the subsequent turnaround day, which I'm assuming (I know, I know) was yesterday.

Does anyone know anything on that? Did everyone get on that was supposed to get on? We're due to board next Saturday and am obviously hoping all has been fixed.

It will be my first time on the Serenade but one of the sister ships (Jewel) is a favorite, so I'm really looking forward to it!

Why the need to be judgmental?!? Many happily married couples enjoy solo travel. In my case, my husband prefers work over travel, while I travel as often as I can :). My solo travel rejuvenates our marriage- time apart can be a very good thing, and being able to travel makes me very happy (we've been happily married for almost 40 years, and I've been traveling solo for most of them) :D

 

I've met (and travelled with) many happily married people who frequently travel sans spouse. Don't knock it until you try it!

 

(I actually feel sorry for couples who need to be together every moment. What's up with that?! LOL)

Another very happy-to-travel-solo married cruiser here, too!

Can you elaborate on this comment? Oh my....how my DH would love not having to go to the CL with me to have a drink (he doesn't drink, but will begrudgingly accompany me now and again).

Here's a screenshot from the letter in the stateroom:

JaxieWaxie, your not really selling this to me and I'm guessing it's not what RCI had in mind for their fun loyalty programme :(

LOL - sorry, about that. The free drinks and the rest of the program are great! Unfortunately, loud-mouth elitists have tended to rule that roost whenever I've been on board. Not fun!

Greatest thing about my sailing on the Independence last week was that I no longer had to visit the Dreaded Den of Obnoxious Entitlement, aka the Lounge, to get a complimentary drink.

During the same hours, we could grab a free glass of wine or beer or whatever from other bars around the ship. It was fantastic. No more having to hold my tongue while those around me tried to out-do each other with their self-aggrandizement and puffery.

The one thing you'll never want to skimp on is your Medical Evacuation coverage, especially if you're traveling places where you might need to be transported elsewhere for better medical care.

My favorite part of doing a B2B? The few hours between sailings where it's basically just you and the crew!

I did one on the Majesty and there was only one other guest doing it, so I walked around the ship taking all of the photos I wanted without having to worry about random strangers getting in the shot. Then I hung out by the pool and it felt like it was aaaaaaaall mine!

And then other people showed up and my bubble burst.

Sorry you had some unfortunate incidents that bothered you. Judging from the responses you got, they would not have been an issue for most people and, to be fair, myself included. But hey, what's important to me is not necessarily what's important to you.

I have had one or two "hmmm, that wasn't right" moments onboard -- we all have. You have to expect it. There are people involved, after all. And we all have our less-than-stellar moments from time to time. :)

Bottom line, it's pretty amazing how smoothly things run on board 99.9999 percent of the time considering the magnitude of things that can trip up the staff and the excellent service they provide to us day in day out. Focus on the "wow moments" as they call them and remember them when the "not so wow" happens. Report the abusive stuff, of course, but know that it is okay to give the crew a pass on the little hiccups, especially if you yourself have had some not-so-proud moments at work along the way. I know I have. Sure they're trained to provide exceptional service and we have every right to demand it but.... it's ok to let the little stuff go...

I can say without hesitation that the Jewel is my favorite in the fleet so far. Terrific design, wonderful staff... and the food? Well, it's not a five-star restaurant in NY, but dining opportunities are not the main reason I take to the sea, so I'm fine with it.

Don't place too much emphasis on what others may log on and complain about. If I did, I never would have booked my most recent cruise on the Explorer -- and that was GREAT time!! Yes, she's old and showing her wrinkles, but there's still great majesty about her.

Go, enjoy, and don't look for things. Just enjoy, experience, and have a blast.

I have been saying for a couple of years now that I want a Crown & Anchor tattoo! Still thinking about it......just haven't decided where. Didn't it hurt a lot on the top of your foot?

Actually no -- and I was expecting it to since that's what everyone says. To be honest, it hurts more when I nick my shin with a razor!

Here ya go! (if I did the upload thingy right!)

I have a small crown and anchor logo on the top of my foot... Funny thing is, when cruising, everyone on the ship assumes it's a fake!

I'll tell you one thing, my team ALWAYS gets the points when I offer it up on the "show me a strategically placed tattoo" question during Quest. :p

Six days since the last one, 84 until the next one... I just need the summer to come and go!

Seven of my eight cruises with RCCL were solo trips for me, as are all three I have on tap for 2012. Obviously, I enjoy it a lot!

With the exception of dancing and formal portraits, I do everything that everyone else does, from bingo and shows to bars, great dinners, poolside contests and funny photos at the port stops, etc. Some people don't do "alone" very well, but I do. I can strike up a conversation with a stranger very easily, so I never felt lonely.

I don't go to events arranged for "singles" as I am not looking to give anyone the impression that I am looking for a "cruise buddy" or a date. Some people are less inclined to spend time by themselves, so they tend to get clingy to other solo travelers they think are equally ill at ease on their own. Made that mistake once! It was like having a second shadow! No thanks.

Seriously - you want to make a big stink eight years later?! Come on, be real.

If you're still carrying around this anti-RCCL baggage, you won't be happy on the cruise. You will, consciously or not, look for evidence of rudeness to prove your "RCCL = rude" bias. I'm not saying you deserved the angst you went through, nor am I saying someone wasn't rude to you eight years ago. I have no idea. I wasn't there. But I do know what it's like to go on a trip when your head is not in a positive place about it. You only see the negative and have blinders to the positive. You won't get all the "happy happy joy jpy" you paid for.

Take the young ones on a Disney cruise instead. Everyone will be happy.

Finally under the three-months-to-go mark! The Allure is calling me...

28 days now for me!

Travis Barker and others from the rock band Blink 182 were on the same transatlantic crossing as me last September. To be honest, I always thought he was a bit of an arrogant jerk, based on nothing more than his public profile.

But then I saw him with his kids. Being a dad. And a quiet, normal guy. And being courteous and friendly toward people who came up to him. Totally blew me away how different he is in reality.

The absolute oddest thing I ever saw on a cruise ship was him in all his heavily-tattooed glory curled up in a chair in the library reading something on his laptop, surrounded by a half-dozen grey-headed retirees in their butterfly sweatshirts and velour track pants, also quietly reading.

36 more days until I get aboard the Oasis!

I love to hear the "doink" the seapass card reader makes!!

I'm a Platinum on the verge of becoming Emerald. There better be cake involved when I'm elevated. :)

I did the Mystery Dinner Theater on the Jewel and had a fantastic time! Yes, the show is campy, but that's part of the appeal. If the audience is fun, you'll have a great time -- they're the ones who "make or break it", not the actors...